Three Pocono Mountain East players involved in a major car accident

Three Pocono Mountain East High School students, all believed to be football players, were involved in a major auto accident on Tuesday night after the team's practice. The accident occured near the school. Two of the kids were airlifted to a hospital.

Athletic director Bob Bailey said in an e-mail to various media members: "Please keep our team and their families in your thoughts and prayers."

However, Bailey said in a phone conversation that the entire Pocono Mountain East staff is "under strict orders," to not make any comments concerning the names of the young people involved or their condition.

He said that all comment must come from district spokeswoman Wendy Frable. Frable hasn't returned any calls left by The Morning Call for her.

She earlier told the Pocono Record that the district has activated the crisis counseling team and "counselors will be available in our school for students and staff."

The Record has also learned that one of the players involved was Steven Dienno, a senior who had been the team's starting quarterback until an injury kept him out of the lineup for last week's game at Quakertown. Dienno, according to comments made by his grandfather to the Record, is in critical condition.

Pocono Mountain East is 3-1 and set to host East Stroudsburg South in a key Mountain Valley Conference game on Saturday night.

The school is rallying support for the accident victims on Twitter with the hashtag #PrayForEast.